Falcon Forecast:Spirit Week Edition

📅 Important Dates

10/5 through 10/16 -- Start sending store bought treats in for upcoming rec night-- This is a fundraiser for the FFO (Fruzen Family Organization).

10/10 – Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Riverside Park Pavilion

10/12 – FFO Meeting • 4:30-5:30 PM Here is the link to join virtually: https://meet.google.com/orf-gwrd-hou
10/16 – FFO Rec Night • 3:45–5:45 PM (FFO Fundraiser: Donations Needed/Snacks etc)
10/20 – Evening Conferences 4:30-7:00 PM

10/22 - Field Trip for 1/2 of 6th Grade to Career Tek (Your child's date was on their permission slip)

10/22 - Seal a Smile

10/23 - Field Trip for other 1/2 of 6th Grade to Career Tek (Your child's date was on their permission slip)

10/23 - Seal a Smile

10/27 - Picture Retake Day

10/27 - Fruzen & Aldrich Orchestra Concert at Aldrich at 6:30-7:30
10/29 – Evening Conferences 4:30-7:00 PM

10/29 - Last Day of Term 1.
10/30 – NEW! Daytime Conferences 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM

* Around November 1st, there will be a winter sports meeting with Athletic Director Wold

11/6 – 7th Grade Vision Screening (other grades too upon parent reqeust: email bgustafs@sdb.k12.wi.us)

11/6 – Report Cards Mailed Home

Dear Fruzen 🦅 Families,

We want every student at Fruzen Middle School to feel welcomed, supported, and connected. When students know they belong, have positive relationships with adults and peers, and experience success in the classroom, school becomes a place they want to be.

Regular attendance helps students build those connections and stay engaged in their learning. As a school, we have a responsibility to create a welcoming environment and understand what might be making attendance difficult for a student.

Families play an important role, too. Talk with your child about how school is going. What do they enjoy? Is there an adult they feel comfortable asking for help? Is anything making it difficult to attend? Noticing patterns early and sharing concerns can help us work together before challenges grow.

If your child is struggling to attend regularly, please reach out. We want to understand the barriers your family may be facing and partner with you to find support.

Thank you for helping us make Fruzen a place where students feel they belong and are supported in showing up each day.

Brice Gustafson
Principal

Fruzen Middle School🦅

Brice Gustafson
Principal
Fruzen Middle School
608-361-2010
bgustafs@sdb.k12.wi.us

Dolly Stibbe
Assistant Principal
608-361-2012
dstibbe@sdb.k12.wi.us

Jennifer Silva
Secretary
608-361-2006
jsilva@sdb.k12.wi.us

Juliana Lerma

Family Engagement Coordinator
608-361-2055 or try 608-361-3645
jlerma@sdb.k12.wi.us

One way to support your student: check out your students grades on Skyward and talk to your kiddo about missing assignments. Email the teacher whenever you need clarification. Staff emails are provided below this article.

Contact the school secretary, Ms. Silva, if you need your Skyward login information.

Here is the link to login to Skyward: https://skyward.iscorp.com/p12finbeloitwi/web/seplog01.w

Get ready to have some fun and show your school spirit all week long! Fruzen Falcons & Future Purple Knights, it’s time to dress up, get creative, and bring the spirit! 💜🤍

🎉 SPIRIT WEEK DRESS-UP DAYS 🎉

☁️ MONDAY — COMFY DAY
Come cozy and comfortable! Pajamas, sweats, slippers—whatever makes you feel relaxed. 💤

👯 TUESDAY — TWIN DAY
Find your twin (or twins!) and dress alike! 👯‍♀️💜

🍎 WEDNESDAY — DRESS LIKE A TEACHER / DRESS LIKE A STUDENT
Will you channel your favorite teacher or dress like a student? You decide! 📚✏️

😎 THURSDAY — ADAM SANDLER DAY
Bring out the oversized shirts, basketball shorts, sneakers, and classic Adam Sandler style! 🎬🏀

💜🤍 FRIDAY — PURPLE & WHITE DAY 🤍💜
Finish the week by showing off our Purple Knight pride! Wear your purple and white and let’s fill the school with school spirit! 🛡️⚔️

💜🤍 GO PURPLE KNIGHTS! 🤍💜

Let’s make it a week to remember! 🎉🛡️

On October 20 and 29th, we will hold parent teacher conferences in the evening from 4:30-7. On October 30th, conferences will be from 8:00am until 11:30 am. Middle school conferences are mostly held in teacher's classrooms except for specialists classes which are usually in the gym or cafeteria. You do not schedule a time to come to conferences. It is more like first come first serve. When you arrive, we will provide you with your scholar's schedule so you know where to go to connect with teachers. It is a great idea to bring your student to conferences. We look forward to connecting with our families during conferences.

Fruzen Family Organization (FFO)

Join the FFO! Families can join by simply emailing Principal Brice Gustafson at bgustafs@sdb.k12.wi.us.

Next FFO Meeting: Monday, October 12 at 4:30 or attend remotely: https:// meet.google.com/orf-gwrd-hou

FFO Rec Night: Friday, October 16 • 3:45–5:45 PM

We need volunteers to help with Rec Night! Volunteers must complete the district-required background check. Please email Mr. Gustafson if you are interested.

We are also accepting donations of individually packaged, snack-size items to sell at Rec Night. Proceeds will support FFO activities for Fruzen students and staff.

Organización Familiar de Fruzen (FFO)

¡Únase a la FFO! Las familias pueden unirse enviando un correo electrónico al director Brice Gustafson a bgustafs@sdb.k12.wi.us.

Próxima reunión de FFO: lunes, 12 de octubre

Noche Recreativa de FFO: viernes, 16 de octubre • 3:45–5:45 PM

¡Necesitamos voluntarios para ayudar con la Noche Recreativa! Los voluntarios deben completar la verificación de antecedentes requerida por el distrito. Envíe un correo electrónico al Sr. Gustafson si está interesado.

También estamos aceptando donaciones de refrigerios individuales y empaquetados para vender durante la Noche Recreativa. Los fondos recaudados apoyarán las actividades de FFO para los estudiantes y el personal de Fruzen.

Outside adult supervision begins at 8:05. Students may enter the building beginning at 8:22 AM. As soon as students arrive, they must place their backpacks and electronic devices in their lockers. Students who would like breakfast should then pick it up and report to their first class of the day. All students should be in class and ready to begin by 8:30 AM.

We are pleased to continue offering free breakfast and lunch for all students.

The school day ends with dismissal at 3:45 PM.

Lunch & Recess Times

Each grade level has a 38-minute lunch and recess period:

• 6th Grade: 11:27 AM–12:05 PM
• 7th Grade: 12:22–1:00 PM
• 8th Grade: 1:17–1:55 PM

*District staff are working to fix our bell system. We have a plan in place to continue to run smoothly despite this issue with the hardware.

Fall Athletics Are Here at Fruzen!

The fall sports season is underway at Fruzen Middle School! We are excited to offer opportunities for students to get involved, build relationships, and represent Fruzen.

Fruzen Fall Sports

This fall, all students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are eligible to participate in Fruzen Middle School's fall athletic programs:

• Cross Country–Began on September 8 and students can still sign up.

• Girls Volleyball–Season will begin on September 28.

• One additional note: Boys soccer and coed boys golf will move to the spring sports season and begin in early April

Practice days and times can vary, but typically they are held after school from approximately 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on school days. Because this is the fall season, practice schedules may be affected by weather conditions and are subject to change.

We will make every effort to notify students and families of practice changes as soon as possible through BOUND.

Stay Connected with BOUND

This school year, the entire School District of Beloit will be using BOUND for athletics, including the high school.

BOUND is an app and website that connects families to important athletics information in one convenient place. Families can use BOUND to access schedules, contact coaches, receive important updates, complete registration, and submit required participation information.

Visit the Fruzen Falcon Middle School BOUND page:
Fruzen Falcon MS BOUND

How to Register

To register your student for volleyball or cross country:

1. Visit the Fruzen Falcon MS BOUND website.

2. Click Registration at the top of the page.

3. Connect your parent and student accounts.

4. Verify or update your family's demographic information.

5. Upload a current physical examination. Physicals dated April 1, 2025, or later are considered current for the 2026–2027 school year.

6. Complete all required participation forms.

7. Register your student for the sport or sports they plan to participate in this school year.

Please also make sure your student has the required Medical and Dental forms on file with the school nurse prior to participation.

Important Information About Football

Football is not a Fruzen Middle School athletic program and is not coached by Fruzen staff. Students who are interested in playing football may participate through the Beloit Football Association, an outside organization.

Families interested in football should contact the Beloit Football Association directly. For additional information or assistance, please contact James Wold, Fruzen Athletic Director, at jwold@sdb.k12.wi.us.

Athletic Eligibility

In order to compete in an athletic competition or meet, students must meet the following requirements:

• Students must not have an F in a class at the time of competition.

• Students must not have an Office Discipline Referral (ODR) that results in an in-school or out-of-school suspension.

Questions?

For more information about Fruzen athletics, please contact:

Mr. James Wold
Fruzen Middle School Athletic Director
jwold@sdb.k12.wi.us

Hello Fruzen Families!

My name is Hannah Flores, and I am excited to welcome students and families to another great year at Fruzen! I coordinate our before and after school programming, which provides students with additional opportunities to connect, learn, and engage beyond the regular school day.

Our programming is designed to give students a welcoming place to build friendships, participate in activities and clubs, and receive additional academic and homework support. More information about this year's opportunities, schedules, enrollment, and activities will be shared with families as plans are finalized.

We would love to have your student get involved! If you have questions about the program or would like more information, please feel free to contact me.

Hannah Flores
CLC Program Coordinator
📧 hflores@sdb.k12.wi.us
📞 608-361-2044

I look forward to working with our Fruzen students and families this year!

Fruzen's Family Engagement Coordinator serves all families and speaks Spanish!!! Please call her 608-361-2055 or try 608-361-3645. Her email is jlerma@sdb.k12.wi.us

Please remember to check your child’s grades regularly on Skyward.

Skyward is the best way to stay informed about your child’s progress, missing assignments, and upcoming deadlines. By monitoring grades consistently, families can catch concerns early, celebrate successes, and partner with teachers to ensure every student stays on track. Taking a few minutes each week to review Skyward can make a big difference in supporting your child’s success at Fruzen.

Students are provided opportunities to check their grades regularly at school using skyward.

Here is a video tutorial on how to check grades on skyward: https://www.skyward.com/support/parents-and-students/family-access-toolkit/students/power-up-grades

Classroom teachers at Fruzen will have classroom sets of Chromebooks for students to use while in class. This will be a change for our students, as they are used to being issued a Chromebook to keep for the year.

Reminder for the 2026-2027 School Year

At Fruzen Middle School, we remain committed to providing a safe, focused, and engaging learning environment for all students. As part of that commitment, we want to remind families of our Cell Phone Procedures, which will continue this school year.

These procedures help ensure that our classrooms are free from unnecessary distractions, promote healthy social interaction, and support a positive school culture.

Why This Matters

Our rules continue to:

• Maximize learning time by eliminating classroom disruptions caused by devices.

• Encourage face-to-face connections among students without technology distractions.

• Support student health and focus by reducing outside interruptions.

• Prevent online harassment and bullying during the school day.

• Enhance school safety for everyone.

Key Expectations

• Before School: Cell phones and other personal electronic devices must be stored in lockers before the academic day begins. They must remain in lockers until the end of they school day.

• During the Day: Cell phones are not permitted in classrooms, hallways, common areas, or bathrooms.

• If Found: Cell phones will be collected and held in the office until the end of the day. After three offenses, a parent/guardian must pick up the device.

• School Events: Restrictions also apply during field trips and school events, as they are considered part of the school day.

In Case of Emergencies

If a student needs to contact home, they may use a school phone. Parents and guardians can call the school office at (608) 361-2000 to relay urgent messages.
Students who require a device for medical reasons (e.g., diabetes monitoring, epilepsy) must provide documentation from a healthcare provider.

We appreciate your continued partnership in maintaining a focused and respectful learning environment for every Fruzen student. Thank you for helping us reinforce these expectations at home.

Important Fruzen Reminders

• Assigned Seating: Every classroom will have a seating chart, and students are expected to sit in their assigned seats. Assigned seating helps teachers take accurate attendance, meet individual student needs, and maintain a predictable and orderly learning environment. Students can set themselves up for success by quickly finding their assigned seat and being ready to learn when class begins.
• Backpacks & Bags: All backpacks, fanny packs, purses, shoulder bags, and other bags must be stored in students' lockers throughout the entire school day. This is an important safety expectation and must be followed at all times. Students may bring a bag or lunch box for a cold lunch.
• Visitors: We welcome families and visitors to Fruzen! All visitors must first report to the main office and check in using our Raptor Security System. A valid photo ID is required.
• Late Arrival: Students arriving after 8:30 AM must enter through the main entrance (Door 1) and check in at the office.

Please click on this link to see the School Supplies List for all SDB Grade Levels.

Meet our dedicated and talented Student Services team! This school year, each team member will focus on providing specialized support to specific grade levels. If you’re seeking guidance or assistance for your child, please connect with their assigned Student Services professional:

• Charlene Huttner, School Counselor: Chuttner@sdb.k12.wi.us
• Stacy Nemetz, School Social Worker: Snemetz@sdb.k12.wi.us
• Mary Manghera, School Psychologist: Mmanghera@sdb.k12.wi.us

Skyward Family Access

Please remember to download and access the skyward family access application:

Skyward's Family Access allows easy, open lines of communication between the school and home. School District of Beloit (SDB) students and parents can log in to view attendance, grades, schedules and calendars. Family Access is available anywhere (any device) with an internet connection.

Contact your child's school if you don't have access to Skyward Family Access and your child is a current SDB student. If you are new to SDB, you will be given access to Skyward Family Access when you complete the online registration procedure for your student.

SDB students can access Skyward by logging in to Clever and selecting the Skyward App. Students log in to Clever using their SDB username and password or by selecting "Log in with Google" if it is available. Once the Skyward website is active, students should use their SDB username and password to log in.

Download on the App Store

SDB App

Did you also know there is a School District of Beloit App? The SDB app is a great way to stay connected not only to things happening at Fruzen, but also around the district. Visit the SDB page to learn about all of the SDB App features here.

Here is a link to download the SDB App:

Download the SDB App

We truly value the commitment of all our families who stay engaged with our district. There are numerous ways for you to stay connected including downloading our free SDB App, signing up for our monthly community newsletter, listening to one of our podcasts, viewing all the great news about our district, reading one of our latest blogs, or following us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

When they come to school consistently, they can take part in all classroom activities, connect with their teachers and friends, and keep up with their lessons. This active participation plays a big role in their academic growth and helps them achieve their best.

If your child is taking the bus, we recommend downloading the Bus Zone app.

This app allows you to track your student's bus route, view stop locations, check scheduled arrival times, and more. Download the app on the App Store or the Google Play Store.